Introduction

‘When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.’ James 1:13-15

The Holy Spirit clearly tells us through James’ letter that God cannot be tempted with evil and He does not tempt anyone. Some people think that temptations come from God but the Holy Writ posits that this view is untrue.

The letter of James reveals the process through which temptations occur. ‘……..but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death,’ James 1:14-18.

The process of temptation can therefore be summarised as follows: Man is Lured and enticed by own desire, that Desire conceives Sin which leads to Death

It is obvious that temptations start with the individual when he / she is lured (dragged away) and enticed by the deceitfulness of sin.

John clarifies this in his letter when he states: ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever’.

John explains here that these three factors: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are not from the Father but from the world. They constitute the bedrock for temptations.

‘I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.’ 1 John 2:12-17

Prayer

Holy Father in the highest, we are thankful for Jesus who makes us right with You. May we have a strong determination to say no to every form of ungodliness and live for Jesus each and every day.